The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-05-12

The city OF Csrrars nestles under ID
protection OF its mountains, the Apna
Alps. = corner OF the Apennines Som
OF these. rising to the heigh. OF 1000 feet
overshaiov the north Of the town, while :
the right aud left they are softened dow
TO bills. richly clothed with fir, chestnut
olive trees and vines In descendin
scale; 10 the south is gap OF about
furlong, through which winds the rive
Avenxs. and beyond the six miles OF inter
vening country the blue Mediterranean
can be seen
The qusrries are one Of the sights OF th
world. occupying three or four descend
ing ridges. which unite 10 the lofty Mont
Ssgro. They have been worked at leas
from the time OF the Emperor Augustus
From then until now all the best marble
has come from them.
The mountains Of marble in some places
seem TO rise almost perpendiculArly; higl
up their sides are the quarries or caves,
as they are locally called, presenting from
the town the appearance Of patches o
snow which refuses to be melted by the
sun, while sometimes il seems as though
partially dissolved snow had begun L
slide down the mountain side
To see the quarries, and tue mode ID
which the "cave man" works, says writer
in London paper. one must be up with
him in the morning and follow him to bis
toll as did.
We were just in time to see huge cor.
ner OF marble, weighing about hundred
tons. forced from the mountain. Round
it men had driven chain OF holes with
crowb bars shaped at the point like a chisel.
By striking the surface and dexterously
turning the bar at each stroke hole is
soon formed about three feet into the solid
rock. thus isolating the desired mass as
much as possible. Into these holes gun
powder is placed by boy, who invariably
performs his task with lighted cigar in
his mouth Clay is then rammed in, a
train laid and warning shout raised.
We betake ourselves to some such shelter
as an oyerhanging rock or small cave; the
foreman gives another shout, applies the
match to the train and runs for his life,
A few moments OF anxious waiting-the
whole mountain seems to shake, ihunder
and groan IN agony at having to give up
its treasures cloud of dust "A rumble
of falling pieces we creep out in time to
see two masses of marble tumbling over
the last ridge on their way to the valley
The explosive power in this instance
had been nicely calculated the huge mass
had been just loosened. Sometimes the
moving force of the charge is underesti-
mated, then the block goes over, often
to pound itself into hundreds Of pieces in
its beadlong course down the ravine.
Being too heavy and large to be moved
entire, it is divided in the simplest way.
4 row OF holes bored across IL IA line CHS
eled between them) plugs Of dry wood
set into the holes, water poured upon them
and 10 time. the wood having swollen,
he blocks crack across and through. Men
hen go to work upon each half with a
hammer aud chisel until they are made
,olerably square, huge cables or chains
ire fastened around them, aud they are
owered by short stages from ledge to the
wagons waiting below
The "cave" men are surely almost as
,rimitivej and hardy in their habits as
heir historic namesakes; many OF them
i've in the hamlets among the hills, six or
light miles away; they leave their homes
It dsybreak, each equipped with pair OF
hick boots which are never worn at home,
gourd slung by his side, to be filled at
he mou ntain stream he passes, a hunk OF
oarse bread under his arm, possibly an
pple in his pocket On this food be ex
SITS during the day, earning about two
billings, and working much harder than
steak fed English navy. In the evening
t home he sups on a nash of meal, min
lied with oil and favored with the never
liling garlic; meat be seldom ever tastes
% Festa Days only does he drink any
hing stronger than water; then be will
pend rs much and even more than he can
ford upon cheap wine Almost every
'esta brings a quarrel. aud the evening its
levitable result "a s,abbing sifray.
OF the 10000 inhabitants living IN Car
ara and its immediate neighborhood abou
900 are ''caye" men; the town is entirely
eyoted TO the marble commerce, marble
tares you 10 the face everywhere, the
rails, roads aud paths are made of IT,
that can be is begn out OF it,
'om perfect copy Of Venus to the com
lon "bsthing tub, as local advertise
Ient has il, Countless copies OF the
ntique are sent out from the 400 studios |,
I'D find their way to various art markets !
I Europe and America. Occasionally a
ood original statue or bust is executed
ut the greater number OF sculptors devote
lemselyes TO the reproducing copies !,
ther of the old masters. popular modern
tsmples or chiseling sepulchrsl monu !,
ents